UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State women’s basketball is in search of making history as it takes on Drexel for an in-state rivalry game on Wednesday, Nov. 27. The Lady Lions look to extend their record to 8-0 for the first time since 1993-94 and for only the third time in school history. A win over Drexel would also mark Penn State’s 17th consecutive home court non-conference win, dating back to Dec. 21, 2022, marking the longest stretch of the kind in program history. Tip time inside the Bryce Jordan Center is set for 1 p.m. and will be streamed on B1G+.
GAME INFORMATION
vs Drexel
- Date: Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: University Park, Pa. | Venue: Bryce Jordan Center
- Live Stats | Watch: B1G+ | Notes | Radio
- Admission: Ticketed
LAST TIME OUT
- Penn State came away from the State Farm WBCA Showcase with a pair of wins against Marshall and Georgia.
- The Lady Lions move to 7-0 for just the fifth time in program history and second time in the last three years under head coach Carolyn Kieger.
- The game was closely contested, with a 25-25 halftime score.
- Penn State sparked an 11-0 run in the third quarter to begin to widen their margin of victory. The stretch lasted just two minutes with eight of the unanswered points coming in under 41 seconds on fastbreaks off of forced turnovers and steals.
- Moriah Murray led the offense with 24 points and seven three pointers. This was Murray’s third game this season producing seven or more made shots from beyond the arc. She also grabbed a career high seven rebounds.
- Alli Campbell posted her second-straight double-figure performance with 14 points, also a career high for the graduate student.
- Gracie Merkle produced her third consecutive double-double and forth of the season. Despite early foul trouble, the 6’6 center still put up 12 points and 11 boards.
- Jayla Oden was effective in the Penn State press, collecting a personal best five steals and contributing to the Lady Lions’ 23 forced turnovers. She also drew five fouls with four of them on the defensive end, a key factor in the turnover game.
- Penn State outscored Georgia 36-18 in the paint.
- The Lady Lions posted 20 assists, their sixth game of the season producing 20-plus-assists.
LADY LIONS IN THE RANKS
- Moriah Murray sits seventh in the Big Ten in points per game (18.9) and second in total points (132). She sits ninth in the nation in total points, first in three pointers per game (5.0) and is first in total three pointers (35). The Pennsylvania native is first in the B1G in total threes and first in threes per game. Murray is also one of 10 players to remain perfect from the free throw line this season.
- Merkle ranks 6th in the country in total points (138) and first in the conference. She also sits fourth in the conference in points per game (19.7). Merkle is third in the nation in field goals made (58) and 17th in field goal percentage (64.4). Her four double-doubles ranks her third in the country and first in the B1G.
- Alli Campbell is ranked 16th in the country in assists (35).
- Penn State leads the nation in total assists (139) and sits eighth in assists per game (21.3). The team is first in the conference in total assists and ranks second in assists per game.
- The team ranks 14th in the country in shooting percentage from the field (49.9) and fourth in the Big Ten.
- The Lady Lions also have the 14th-best scoring offense across the country, averaging 87.6 points per contest.
- Penn State is one of only 39 teams that remain undefeated across the NCAA Division I level.
SCOUTING THE DRAGONS
- The Dragons are 2-2 to start the 2024-25 campaign. They won their first two games against Marist and La Salle and are on a two-game slide after losing to UC Irvine and Temple.
- In Drexel’s most recent loss, the Dragons only totaled 43 points. After a hot start, outscoring Temple 18-9 in the first quarter, the Dragons couldn’t find their way back, conceding by a nine-point margin. Deja Evans was the lone player in double figures, scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 boards.
- Two Drexel players average double figure scoring this year: Amaris Baker (16.8) and Deja Evans (12.5).
- Last season, Drexel produced a 19-15 overall and 10-8 conference record. After winning the CAA Championship, the Dragons earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Texas in the first round.
PENN STATE – DREXEL SERIES
- Penn State owns the all-time series against Drexel by a 4-3 margin.
- Drexel won the last game in 2022, a 86-82 overtime loss for the Lady Lions.
- Penn State is 2-1 in games played in Happy Valley against the Dragons.
2023-24 SEASON IN REVIEW
- Penn State produced its best overall record in a decade with its 22-13 season.
- The Lady Lions advanced to the Final Four of the Inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament, marking their first postseason appearance since 2017-18.
- Penn State was one of four one-seeds in the tournament after just missing a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
- The Lady Lions finished ranked sixth in the Big Ten.
- Penn State consistently ranked in the top-10 in three major statistical categories throughout the 2023-24 campaign. PSU produced one of the highest level offenses in the country with steady recognition in field goal percentage, three-point percentage and scoring offense.
- The Lady Lions had for 100-plus-point performances, 13 90-plus point games and 21 80-plus point performances.
- Penn State shattered its single game three-point record on two different occasions last season. Once against Central Connecticut on Dec. 20 with 15 three-pointers and then again when it hosted Maryland on Jan. 28 with 16.